Ted Asti to be celebrated for contributions, 100th birthday

As a World War II vet and mayor of Superior for 32 years, Asti has many stories to tell

By Jennifer Rios

Staff Writer

Posted:
02/14/2018 01:53:55 PM MST

Updated:
02/14/2018 01:54:40 PM MST

Ted Asti

If you go

What: Ted Asti's 100th Birthday

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Villagio of Broomfield, 11952 Gray St.

Cost: Free

Ted Asti, former Superior Mayor and World War II veteran, will celebrate a century of life this weekend alongside his family, friends and community.

Villagio of Broomfield, a senior living facility where Asti has lived since March 2017, is throwing their oldest resident a 1940's U.S.O party — complete with a live band, food and photo booth.

Broomfield Veterans Museum Board of Directors, one of several sponsors of the party, wanted to "honor a man whose life has been dedicated to community and military service," spokesman Ed Miccio said.

After moving north from southern Colorado in the 1930s, Asti and his family started and ran a number of small businesses in the Town of Superior and the surrounding area. Asti lived in Superior for about 60 years.

He is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Europe during WWII. Asti was a technical sergeant who was assigned to a unit called First Tank Destroyer Group.

In 1944, the group was part of the June 6 Normandy Invasion and later operations in Belgium, Holland, and Germany, according to the museum.

"Come and meet this wonderful man who has contributed a lifetime of service to his country," Miccio said. "Meet friends and family and other community members who will share stories, history that we don't often have the opportunity to experience."

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Nellie Otero, marketing director for the senior living facility, said the birthday party was part of Villagio's "Once Upon a Dream" program, which once a month fulfills a resident's wish.

Asti wasn't in a mindset to request a party, she said, but his family was in favor of the plan.

"We're doing it big for him and his family," Otero said. "I extended an invitation over to the Veterans Museum because there are not a whole lot of WWII veterans left. I decided 'what better way (to celebrate) than to have them in the building, as well.'"

Red, white and blue decorations will fill the room, as well as entertainment from a band that will play music from the era.

An American flag that has flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and presented to Asti by Rep. Jared Polis's office,also is expected to be at the party.

"That was really special for him," Marianne Chavez, Asti's oldest child, said. "We visited the WWII memorial in D.C., and my sister had registered him, so you can pull up his name and picture. He thought that was really cool."

Villagio invited its 34 residents, and their families, as well as the hospice company that has been "instrumental" in Asti's care and is donating two sheet cakes for the occasion. Asti's church community and all members of the public also are invited.

Family is flying in from out of state, Otero said, and Superior Mayor Clint Folsom is inviting all mayors since Asti, most of whom agreed to come.

"We're all excited to help celebrate with him," Folsom said.

In November 2008, the Town Board of Trustees honored him by naming the park near Superior Shopping Center, in the oldest part of Superior, the Ted T. Asti Park.

After the 1930s move from southern Colorado to Superior, Asti's father Louis took up mining and farming along Coal Creek near the present-day golf course.

After school, Asti worked as a firefighter and miner before joining the Army. When he came back from the war, he and his brothers operated a Texaco gas station and country grocery store at Dillon Road and McCaslin Boulevard. The store closed in 1951 with the construction of U.S. 36.

Asti went on to run Asti's Drive-In in Boulder, and then worked in construction across the region and for the University of Colorado until he retired.

He also served on the board of the Superior School District before it closed in 1964 and was absorbed into the Boulder Valley School District.

He served as mayor from 1958 to 1978 and again from 1986 to 1998.

Chavez said she and her two brothers will be there for the party, as well as six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and Asti's nieces and nephews.

His family celebrates his birthday every year, she said, but the last huge party was when Asti turned 80.

"He's a very caring man, a very considerate person," Chavez said.

His time spent in the Army made him a respectful person who takes care of the people around him. Asti moved into Villagio shortly after he turned 99 and had a slight stroke.

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